Amsterdam-Netherlands.

Taker Company.

Giotto.

One does not expect at such a young age to have almost everything in life. I have struggled most of the time to get out of the clutches of my family. They're not bad, they just have too much money and won't let me grow up. Well, that's mostly because my Russian uncles’ dirty money.

At 35 years old, I have managed to position myself as the CEO of the number one technology company in all of Amsterdam. We are excellent hackers, programmers, techies and whatever else you need. Although I have led the company to such a high position, the real owner of this tech empire is my uncle, Aleksandr.

Reverend? disgrace and as perfect as I am....

“Giotto,” my father Donato's voice makes me look at him, "Do you understand what I'm asking you?”

“I didn't even listen to you,” I answer simply.

Lukyan and Antonella's laughter is heard in the office. We are in an extremely secret meeting. Lukyan is my best friend and vice president of Taker Company. He is my uncle Ryan's son and although we don't share the same blood, fate made us family. The same happens with Antonella, she is my uncle Aleksandr's daughter and she should legally be the owner of this company, but she decided to (move in a different) directions, for example, to become a model.

“Giotto, I'm serious,” my father's voice comes out annoyed. “Can you stop thinking about yourself for a moment?”

I raise an eyebrow.

“I wasn't thinking about me, old man,” I sigh. “I was introducing the extras in this story," I point to my friends.

“I'm an extra?” He asks indignantly. I look at Lukyan obviously. “I'll spend more time with you to be the perfect co-star.”

“Giotto and Lukyan, wasn't it enough to get tattooed all over your bodies, let alone all of your bad decisions and self-centeredness?” my father slams the desk and gets up from the chair. “A favor... I'm asking you a fucking favor and neither of you can take other people's lives seriously.”

“I care about Antonella,” she shakes my hand. Does that count? I thought of someone else, man.

“It's because of that stupid attitude that Aleksandr doesn't give you the company," she shakes her head.

“Dad won’t give him the company because mom wants Gio to be more human,” Antonella replies, "but it's absurd that he doesn't give it to him, he's the most handsome and successful businessman in all of Europe,” she lets go of my hand. Just like Lukyan, but nobody cares about him.

My friends and I laugh. The three of us are sitting on the sofa in my office. We honestly only use this piece of furniture for Arya and Lauren's exaggerated scolding, but today Donato joined in.

“Where did I go wrong with you?” My dad looks at us with resignation. “I'm screwed with that shitty personality of yours," the disappointment is reflected in his face. Aleksandr and Ryan are to blame for this.

In the midst of my father's indignation, the office door is opened, shushing him. In walked two black-haired women and a man, along with my mothers, Lauren and Arya.

“The circus is full," says Antonella, settling down on the couch, making Lukyan and me laugh.

“Antonella, please," Arya scolds her as she closes the door. This is Aleksandr's fault and his brilliant idea to raise you like a goddess.

“What's wrong with being better than others?” he asks, Lukyan, wiping an imaginary lint from his pants.

“I can't believe my son is talking like this," Lauren looks indignantly at my friend. “I should have divorced Ryan and never let him see his kid again.”

There is silence in the office when a red-haired woman with rather striking eyes clears her throat.

“Don't any of you know royalty?” she asks. “If you don't know, I am the future queen of Finland and you should show me some respect.”

I raise an eyebrow at the red-haired girl. She reminded me of a girl from kindergarten that told me I wasn't perfect and that my parents weren’t either.

How do I remember that?

I shared two years with that girl and her words still haunt me.

“Who else says it besides you?” I answer, with a question, making the girl more annoyed. “And no, I don't know royalty, I have more important things to do than to keep an eye on little princesses.”

“Mother!” the girl sees an older black-haired woman. “This jerk is disrespecting me. Report him to the imperial court or have him taken to the torture room.”

I smile sideways at the lady's mocking expression.

Bingo.

I have a new toy to amuse myself with.

“Must you take refuge in mommy's skirt to have your own fights?” I scoff, running my index finger across my bottom lip, Lukyan and Antonella's laughter can be heard in the background.

The girl presses her lips into a thin straight line.

“You're an asshole,” she looks at me and I stop touching my mouth, "What are you, four years old? Because you're an immature imbicile and an ignorant commoner.

“I'm three, but who's counting, little princess?” I adjust my tie. “I may be a commoner, but I can wipe my ass with hundred dollar bills and your opinoin is irrelevant to me.”

“Giotto!” My father's shout makes the little princess jump. “That's enough.”

Silence again, the difference is that the atmosphere became tense. Lauren and Arya were trying to calm my father down, and my dear friends, Lukyan and Antonella left the office laughing at me.

Fuck, weren't they supposed to help with whatever Donato said?

“We're sorry about Alexia's attitude,” excuses the man who came with her. “It's because of that very problem that we've come to you, Donato.”

“We hope you can help us with her and give her a job here," says the girl's mother.

“What do you mean, work?” I get up from the sofa, losing all excitement and joy for my new toy. “What the fuck do you mean by work here, Donato?”

“First you need to calm down,” Lauren replies. “I thought he already told you about that.”

“Donato doesn’t tell me anything, all he cares about is that I have tattoos all over my body?” I mumble.

“And secondly, Aleksandr hired Lady Alexia to start working here,” Arya finishes speaking. “I apologize for my son's asshole attitude.”

“What?” We say in unison, Lady Alexia and I, on our way to Donato's visitors.

The red-haired girl looks at her mother and the man with her as if she wanted to kill them. We are all standing in front of the desk where my father is sitting.

“Is this how you are going to treat me?” She speaks indignantly, running her fingers through her hair in an attempt to comb it. “No one is worthy of being treated well, and you....”

“Alexia, stop it!” the black-haired man shouts at her. “You're the future queen of a nation and your own people hate you. I'm your father and if I say you're going to work to see if you happen to have humanity, you work, period!”

“Mom...” The little princess whimpers.

“Alexia, don't make things more difficult,” the lady replies dryly.

The girl shuts up and crosses her arms while she looks at everyone in the office with an immense hatred.

“I told you when you came to the office, but you were in your own world, Giotto,” my father looks at me with resignation, my attention returns to him. “It's a favor I'm asking you. Just take care of her and make her see that the world of commoners is not a bad one.”

I let out a laugh.

“I'm not a bodyguard, I'm a businessman,” I adjust my perfect gray suit. “Get yourselves sorted out and don't stick me with the whimsical little princess.”

“The company is Aleksandr's and Lady Alexia will work here,” Arya answers. “You don’t have a say in this, Giotto.”

“Arya...” She doesn't let me finish speaking.

“Giotto, this is your last warning” she looks at me sternly, now I understand why my uncle Aleksandr and her have been together all this time.

“I will do, but it doesn’t mean I will like it” I answer coldly.

They talked about confidentiality agreements, security and I don't know what else, so that the little princess would be safe in my perfect company. She will live in the apartment one floor below mine to keep her from feeling alone.

“Don't think I'm happy about this, asshole," she looks at me with disgust. I'll make your life miserable for accepting this stupidity.

“Look how happy I am to have you here,” I look at her the same way. “Try to damage my perfect reputation and I'll make your life shit, you spoiled little brat.”

“Lady Alexia,” she corrects me. “Filthy commoner.”

“Spoiled little princess, you mean," I correct her.

This is just the beginning.